Monday, March 21, 2011

Welcome back Lakers! Spring Break has passed, which means the end of the school year will soon be upon us. Even after a week of relaxation and freedom from the classroom walls, excitement is still running high in the Charter room. Students hug and smile as they greet their classmates back, sharing stories of places they went or things that they did. The vibe is positive and the kids seem recharged. Before break, students participated in an event that happens once every 3-4 years; the celebration of the Beads! The Charter beads represent the IB learner profile characteristics practiced in our school; Risk takers,Communicators, Principled, Thinkers, Balanced, Open-minded, Reflective, Knowledgeable, Inquirers, and Caring. Periodically throughout the year, students were able to share stories about how they practiced those different characteristics. With each story, a scoop of colored beads that correlated with each standard was poured into a large glass container in the room. “When the container is full,” explained Mrs. Hunter, GEA’s Humanties teacher, “we will celebrate by getting all of the past and present Charter kids together to share a meal and reflect on how we got to this point.” This tradition of scooping beads has been being practiced since the Charter school first opened it’s doors in 2008. “It took us 3 years to get it done, but we finally did it!” Students met during lunch on the last day of school before break and consumed over 15 pizzas ordered in from the Gooseblind, a local business in Green Lake. “It was cool to have all the Charter people together,” said Kylie Pischke, 8th grader. “It’s also really cool to see the beads all done. It’s a creative way to show that we’re dedicated to being International Baccalaureate students.” The bead container sits on a shelf in the Charter room as a constant reminder of their combined accomplishment.